SkillsUSA Illinois - 2026
Launch the media gallery 1 playerIndian Valley Vocational Center is a proud member of the SkillsUSA Organization. SkillsUSA stands as the premier workforce development organization for students, fostering their journey towards becoming proficient professionals, poised leaders in their careers, and conscientious contributors to their communities. By becoming a member of the SkillsUSA IVVC Chapter, our students make a commitment to engage in activities that highlight not only their technical skills, but also their workplace and personal skills. This is a huge time commitment for the students, as their practices and training are in addition to their regular class work.
This year, we had 65 SkillsUSA members! Students worked hard all year and on April 23rd, we were able to send 34 of our IVVC students to compete in their skilled trade area at the SkillsUSA Illinois Championships in Peoria, IL. This year, our competing group of students attend IVVC in the trade areas of CNA, Firefighting, Graphic Design, Law Enforcement, Welding, Teaching Methods, EMS, Automotive Technology, Collision Repair, Culinary Arts and Computer Programming. That is quite the diverse group! We are proud to say that our students brought home 8 medals in 4 different program areas!
We checked in with some of our competitors and here’s what they had to say about their time at SkillsUSA Illinois!
IVVC is proud to recognize and congratulate all of our medalists:
Giovan LoChirco, Senior from Yorkville High School; currently enrolled in Culinary Arts for his second year took Bronze in Restaurant Service.
Kaelin Patterman, Senior from Yorkville High School; currently enrolled in Graphic Design for her second year took Gold in T-Shirt Design AND Bronze in Pin Design
Ally Brandonisio, Junior from Hinckley-Big Rock High School; currently enrolled in Graphic Design took Bronze in T-Shirt Design.
Matilda Simon, Junior from Hinckley-Big Rock High School, Genesis Orozco, Junior from Yorkville High School and Alexia Poidomani, Junior from Yorkville High School; All currently enrolled in Law Enforcement competed as a team and took Silver in Crime Scene Investigation.
Josh Hane, Senior from Hinckley-Big Rock High School; currently enrolled in Fire Science for his second year took Gold in Firefighting.
Maya Cantwell, Junior from Yorkville High School; currently enrolled in Law Enforcement took Gold in Job Skills Demo Open - Demonstrating Handcuffing.
Keira Daily, Senior from Yorkville High School; currently enrolled in Law Enforcement for her second year took Bronze in Job Skills Demo Open - Demonstrating Proper Evidence Packaging.
Congratulations to all our medalists! Your hard work, dedication and perseverance paid off. Next on our agenda is the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta, Georgia where our Gold Medalists will be competing with the best of the best across the United States! Stay tuned on social media for updates as the students prepare for their next adventure!
We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our sponsors without which we would not have been able to send this many students to the SkillsUSA Illinois Conference. Your support means the world to us!!
Stahl’s Service & Repair
Hoyt Field Service, LLC
Independent Renewal Energy
Kendall Printing
Knotty Pine
All Points Printing, LLC
Malley Plumbing & Heating Co.